All Grown Up...or are we?

Pioneer parents passing through Kansas City

Oh man, I just have to expound about this…whatever happened to grown-ups?  Or should I say realizing that we are grown up and don’t need to be treated like we are still in elementary school. 

Reading a national news paper today (2 words because it is paper that really reports only news, nothing about celebrities and other types who think they are), which had two articles that made me just want to smack somebody. Not sure who exactly, probably just my own head in frustration but come on people….are we really so nanny-fied up the wazoo that we can’t think for ourselves anymore?

Article number one was about distractions in the work place. After some statistics about who bothers whom and how social media dominates work time and all (shame on those of you reading this at work!) ….a picture was in the lower corner. A grown woman is standing at a counter of some kind, obviously doing a job. She is wearing a narrow yellow sash like thing, almost like an overgrown dog collar in style, cross ways on her body. It is a sign to her other coworkers that she is “busy” and not to be disturbed. A whole bunch of them hang on hooks behind her on the wall for others to take when needed so  they be identified as “busy” too and nobody is to bother them with videos about their dog or instagram photos of their breakfast. (I am guessing the dog collar style is so it can be adjusted in girth for universal one size fits all coding.) Did the boss put this lady in time out so she actually gets some work done for his dollar? Why do we need a sash to say back off? Why not just say to the interrupting instagrammer….”back off, I gotta get some work done?” Are we afraid of hurting somebody’s feelings because we don’t’ have time to listen to a story about their daughter’s lame boyfriend? Can’t we just hold up a palm and say “later?”   I about upchucked my cheerios at this story.  Of course I can’t let it go with just that one observation. Maybe they have blue sashes for those on the way to the potty, or even a brown one so everybody knows your business without asking, (you know what I mean) because bothering a sash wearer is an office no-no!  Maybe a scarlet red one is for those who got caught looking at fashion blogs or playing poker during office hours. Shame on you Allie Officeworker! Go get your sash and sit in your cubicle for time out…and get some work done while you are at it.  Okay, enough, I could go with this one for days.

Article two was about the new “take your parents to work days” cropping up in major companies across America because so many young adults don’t have a landing pad at home for mommy and daddy so now the boss has to include them too. Company picnic coming up?, bring the parents!  Show them your desk and your homework papers and then we can all sit at the table and talk about your work performance…oh wait, that was elementary school right? Wrong, parental participation is happening in office building across the country. It is even encouraged by upper managment to include the parents frequently at many of those “younger” generation type companies where a tie is something that happens only in a game (probably watched by a non sasher ).  I would have been horrified to take my parents to my place of business during regular hours. After work or weekends during a visit is okay, but as active observers during the day? Are we that insecure? At what point does the employee decide that mommy and daddy are too old to come to work?  Why aren’t the mommy and daddy saying “are you nuts?  I let go of those little hands long ago because I get much better leverage to kick’m in the rear that way. Not that I wouldn’t throw myself in front of a speeding train or fling out the ever present “safety arm” across the passenger seat, but I am in no way tagging along to the office asking to see their locker. I would not want my child working for a company that is so unsure of the abilities of its employees that they feel it is okay for the kids to check with mommy and daddy to be sure all is okay. Can’t you just see some old daddy saying “Hey Buddyboy, what does this button do? “ And off goes the whole company internet. Oopsies, sorry everybody, my dad was playing with my computer again.  Maybe if he put on a yellow sash and sat in the corner all would be okay.

Yes, perhaps I am just a believer in our own ability to function in the real world once we drop the diapers, banish the binkie , fall down, get up, try again, cry it out and tell other people the important stuff to their face, like sorry, I am a bit busy doing some brain surgery or something so save the funny cat picture for happy hour. 

I must say however, my newest favorite app for background noise is a police scanner for a local city. The things I learn are far more enlightening than my old talk radio. For instance, if you plan to shoplift, don’t do it in a tie-dyed shirt and funky hat. The cops will find you really fast.  And, when shoplifting, if one is going to do it in drag, be careful of your attire, heels do not make for good running shoes.  Now get back to work.

New shows are must sees!!

Hoard Couture #26

WOW!!  Okay, I’m done. That should suffice to be a blog about a couple of shows I viewed last night. 

Before I elaborate on them however, I want to say how much I have missed so many of you. Being out of the loop for so long made me realize just how much my “art” friends mean to me, even if we are not the buddy up to the bar type of buddies. Now that life may have settled down…………………..

Sorry, I was off finding a big piece of wood to knock on… perhaps I can find the time to see what you all have been up to. Judging by the offerings at First Friday, evidently you all have been very busy.

First up is the First Stop at the CMA. Judi Longacre did it again by putting together a group of local favorites that offered push pin pieces at hard to beat prices.  I hope people were thinking ahead to Christmas (after all is past Labor Day and the wrapping paper is starting to appear in the stores!).

Not to be missed is the packaged traveling show “Environmental Impact” in the main galleries of the CMA. A limited engagement through Oct 31^st is worth the time to view the art and read the statements or stories that go along with them. Think the underbelly of National Geographic. Sad to realize that such beauty can be found in such tragic situations. Often we read or hear about the affects of pollution, overpopulation, and urban sprawl, but to “see” the impact through an artist’s eye offers a perspective that goes beyond mental. The shame of what we are doing to our planet becomes visceral. Using the trash itself to make art as in the polar bear sculptures right inside the door, is pure artistic irony. Hey world, you give us garbage and we will make something positive from it whether you like it or not.  My overall thought was that I am tired of this, which I meant in the sense that rubber tires seem to be everywhere in this show. Our very own rhino in the arts district should be added to this exhibition and sent packing for awhile so others can see what can be done with such castoffs.

We stopped by Saxton Gallery and Journey Art Gallery.  The JAG team was meet’n and greet’n a constant flow of people once one gets past the arterial clog of 4^th and Cleveland N.  Their location on the bright and open corner of 4^th and Cleveland S is ideal for showcasing the variety of pieces offered. Less local and more regionally oriented, it will be a good resource for those who do not venture out of the area to collect.

Do not miss the current show at Translations, Ludlow Prep 1929, a collaboration between Craig Joseph and Clair Murray Adams. The Ticket did a good job explaining the premise so I will not elaborate on the how this installation was created or the why it was done. WHAT was done is far more worth my limited space. I would not be surprised to find that the gallery is haunted during the month of September. All those mementoes hidden inside the desks must surely contain a spirit or two. Claire did a spectacular job making visual what Craig illustrated through words.  One must be willing to take the time to read and become a voyeur of sorts to the lives behind some long forgotten faces in a discarded old school photo.  In a way, the premise is a bit creepy because we like to think of ourselves as being respectful of the “dead”. Poor Craig had to keep telling people it was okay to sit in the desk chairs and become one with the soul whose name was on the back. It is when one pulls out the seat and realizes a sepia toned photo of the real person is still sitting there, that an uncomfortable feeling takes hold. Granted, the names and places have been changed (or in this case made up) to create a narrative of lives lived, entwined and immortalized.  A copy of the text for each desk is available should one not want to try and read the ones on the desks themselves, which for those who forgot their readers, may be necessary. I asked for a copy to be emailed to me so I can take my time later and enjoy the stories.

Inside each desk are the bits and pieces of someone’s life who once sat in that chair as envisoned by Claire. Such a display makes one think about what we are leaving behind, which dovetailed right back to the show at the CMA and to thoughts of my own Hoard Couture project. Looking at baby shoes, faded photos and costume jewelry is moving in a way that one does not want to really confront.  I applaud Claire’s attention to detail and her method of weaving together a personality inside a box. Finding melted candles lets one know that she did not just plop the stuff inside the desk, she had to assemble it with intent, which is her signature style.  Our own habitual behaviors happen on top of the desks. Every person held on to the glass sculpture on top of one of the desks before lifting the lid. Yes, it was glued to the surface, but we instinctively take hold so it won’t fall off. Do we automatically make assumptions about people the same way?

The teacher’s desk is a delight to explore unto itself because of the subtle humor found in its contents. Any former or current teacher will relate.  How simple times were back then, or so we thought. Cute little girls with chopped off hair in their frilly white dresses or bored looking boys in britches and bow ties…the game of life was never so much fun.

Approach this show as if Stephen King, Alfred Hitchcock and Louise Nevelson decided to have a threesome.  If you happen to hear the theme of the Twilight Zone playing somewhere in the background of your brain, all the better, but don’t be one bit surprised to find that a chair or two may just scoot out on its own accord as the occupant unseen decides to cut class.

The VCRT Lifestyle (Vintage Consignment Resale Thrift )

Simple title to ward off those who only want to read about art. This time I am delving into the fine art of finding treasures (of the clothing kind) in the cast off world of others. There are those who would never set foot in such venues as Goodwill, Salvation Army, Village Thrift and Aunt Jane’s Attic but if one can score Tommy Hilfiger for 2 bucks, it is worth it. No, I hate the whole label conscious culture, what a name brand does however is ensure a level of quality which means one can wear the thing at least twice before tossing it back into the sea.

A recent foray resulted in 26 items, all famous labels, for a whopping total of just under $130…a good haul by any measure. If you are a seasonal or trend devote, this lifestyle is not for you. Only in the high end resale “boutiques” where the label mavens drop off their once worn, once seen in, past season designer stuff would you perhaps find something to meet your standards. Not me, although I did get a bargain or two in one of those places because I can still wear the smaller sizes.  That subject is coming up in further detail. But first, one must categorize the various venues.

Genuine thrift is the best for bargains although Goodwill has recently changed its layout and pricing methods to reflect their increasing popularity. Only the smaller places tucked into the less than desirable neighborhoods, and the high end boutiques, still sort by sizes. That option takes more work on their part but suits the cliental or the quickie shopper. Within the last year, I have had the chance to explore the VCTR culture in San Francisco, Toronto, St. Petersburg, Bethesda, Columbus, Chicago and of course locally, but I recommend never shopping in one’s backyard. Why? Because one may be tempted to buy back one’s own stuff when seen on the racks, but if it must be done, donate to one place and shop at another.  Also, (true story from several years ago) I purchased a black tie dress locally for about $20 and it turned out to have been donated by someone who was at the event to which I wore it. Ended well for me, not for her…..no details to that story however….sorry! Vintage (often tacked on to the Costume category) sell by eras and are rather pricey in every city as the trend to go retro catches on. Resale per say is the middle range group along with consignment stores. Some consignment stores take items on loan with a cut to the store and a cut to the donor when something is sold or they direct purchase items from a laundry basket of offerings brought into the venue by a hopeful closet clearer who thinks their items are worth more than most peoples’ stuff. Those places are bit too snooty for me, they reject more than they take from the general public but the clerk’s friends can bring by paint splatter stuff and it all gets “bought” for their racks.  I prefer the bottom feeder thrift locations where black garbage bags of discards are unceremoniously dropped off in heaps.

The search for such venues can take one to the rather “less than desirable” areas of town at times so never ever look like you could afford the real thing. Dress down to just above bum level. Crappy shoes easy to slip on and off and the same with clothing, no belts, fussy buttons etc because the ability to change quickly to try things on is essential. Other customers waiting to use the one or two dressing rooms can get a bit hostile. That is if you are lucky to find a place with a dressing room although more and more places are putting them in probably because of the laws of privacy or something. A cross the body bag for your phone and wallet is a good idea too as nothing ruins a good day like a snatch and grab of one’s bag or the chance of a phone falling from a pocket and being left behind. Also, use cash in singles and small bills as most places seem to lack singles and will often give you a bit of discount if you can refill their drawers with one’s.  

Don’t wear much make up so as to avoid getting it on something you might want to buy, unless you are sure to be able to get it out. Then one can bargain for a discount because the item has a “stain” on it. Another trick for the places that keep track of how long an item has been in the store, learn how to read the ticket. If an item has been on the racks for at least 5 months, they will often give you half off but you have to ask, clerks often don’t tell you the policy.  Look for the original tags or things like button bags still attached, clear plastic size labels on pant legs and so forth which indicate an item has never worn before being donated. Do not limit oneself to your own estimated size when choosing to try something on. Older clothing is “bigger” in numbers. I am currently a (x) in most things, but in vintage wear, I have to go to a 12 or a large. In current higher end labels, 2’s or 0’s may have to come into play. It is a weird game of numbers so I stick to the few brands I know for sure and select only those to try on unless something is really too good to pass up. That leads to how to find something in those jammed racks of stuff.

How a store is laid out can factor into the quality of finds. Double racks (one over the other along a wall) and racks too close together are not good for bargains. They do often hide some odd finds however and are appeared geared to a younger clientele. So are stores open only a few days a week for limited hours. I find those to be staffed by disconnected youth selling stuff they got from friends or from other thrift places and then decided to try silk screening them.  I walk in and get the “grandma glance” so I mention how much my daughter loves their store and wanted to drop a few hundred for her birthday but……I can see they were busy so maybe I will come back next week.  Multiple offerings of the same item is a giveaway that something is not right with the item, most likely a fit issue, so avoid them. Places which create vignettes of their goods also turn me off. I don’t need to pay a few dollars more because a belt is coiled and laid gently in a basket. Stick that sucker on a hook with 10 more and I may get two at 50 cents each instead.

GW and SA both now rack by color and item category meaning all the red short sleeved shirts are in one place, regardless of size and they rainbow everything with some knowledge of the color wheel . Prints and patterns are all placed together too. So how to find good stuff fast? The answer is the details. Look for contrasting collars, longer sleeves (on short sleeve items, a “cap” sleeve is often cheaper), ruffles, contrasting or metal buttons, and no puckering of seams. Something that looks too fussy or cute is trying to hid cheaper production quality .Patterns and color combinations are revealing as well. Stripes are favored by higher end labels but look for them to match on the side seams which show attention to detail. Smaller prints in all over patterns are also a favored give-away and of course, the little logos of Polo, Lauren, Lands End, Hilfiger, Klein and Kors that can be found in various locations. Pants are a bit more challenging but better brands have a signature interior waistband detail. Learn to recognize it and one can speed down a rack in mere moments without having to pull anything out and check the length. When pausing at those better brands, the tag inside will give a size and a length so no need to hold up and check. If you know your fit, you can do this fast. Dockers for a dollar can’t be beat!

Being older, I am no longer in the market for the independent store brands such as Old N, Ab and Ftch, Banana R, and P Jack which can all be found in large quantities because the young are fickle creatures. Know your store brands from Macys, Saks, Dillards and the like who all have a logo house brand of their own that show up frequently. Beware the one letter change knock off or the font fakes which can be very similar to these brands but not of good quality. Speed shopping may allow one or two to slip by into the basket of potential purchases.  Know the independent labels of Lily P, Vera W, Liz, and St. J  but do not expect to find any top products like Chanel, Versa, Dol and G, or Vera B for example at the thrift level. Those names go to the top boutiques or vintage stores for a hefty price. You see one in the mid to lower range and it is likely a NY city street knock off…which happens to just fine by me so it is a matter of what one wants.  

Some people find the shoes a bit creepy and that is often true. Good pairs can be found however without having to risk getting grossed out. The inside of a shoe should be as new and as unworn as possible, so too should be the sole and the heel. No stains, scuffs for gouges and one can pretty much assume they were donated unworn. Size is again an issue, if something looks like it might fit, try it. Also, because so many people put things back wherever they feel like it, do not limit your search to a designated area.  Limit shoes to the unusual as basics can be gotten at DSW for pennies when using a coupon. Purses, belts and jewelry are avoided by me so I can’t elaborate on that unless one is looking for a vintage piece and then only go to flea markets as the stores know their prices.

Hmmm…what have I missed? Oh yeah, the one and done rule. The racks get one pass and no more. If an item did not catch your eye the first time, it is not worth it on the second run. Don’t linger over a try on, if you have to think about how to make an item fit or fix it or think about it, then leave it. Put it on, it looks great, good, on to the next item in your pile. Ignore the six items only rule for dressing rooms unless being watched but if there is no line to try things on, take as much in as you can! Just be courteous and put the unwanted items on a discard rack, don’t leave them in the dressing room using up precious hanger space (if one is lucky to even get a hook on the wall).

 (Anybody need a bathroom break or a coffee refill? I'll wait........) 

Even if one does not find anything or is just perusing to kill time, overheard conversations are often hilarious. Keep your head down and your ears open and creative material will come to you! This past excursion proved fruitful on all accounts. Buyer beware however as in the one la-de-da boutique I did explore, a C Klein shirt was on the rack for $15.50, two stops later, the same exact shirt was in a GW for $4. I got had as I bit on the first one, but then made up for it with some $2 finds of Hilfiger, Talbots and Lauren so all balanced out in the long run. In my bum mode and single dollar bill payment method I was afraid the boutique-y creatures were going to hand me a card for the local mission and use gloves when handing over my bag with the shirt lovingly wrapped in tissue. No wonder it cost that much.

When I travel, thrift shopping is how I see a city. Museums and tourist places are nice for when I have never been to city before, but they are not how the locals live. My searches take be through the neighborhoods, down the side streets and into the tucked away shopping centers. What is on the racks is also revealing at times via the offering of printed T’s, college logos, and old uniform shirts. The convention and visitors bureau will not direct you to these locations unless part of their culture which is true in San Francisco and Toronto so much so that they have dedicated pages in their hotel visitors guides. Vacations are for having fun and seeing the sights, travel is for exploring , at least in my way of tagging along on business trips, so on that note, the next time you revisit a city…..happy hunting!!

Who? Oh...you mean me?

Starrett, Slagle, Offenbach, Donizetti, Borcoman, Kehres, Leiendecker, Scarpitti, Kayleigh, Marquese, Aylward, Wuyanbu, and Damonte….., what do all these names have in common? They were spelled correctly (I am assuming because spellchecky thingy is almost out of red ink) in the local Canton paper.  Mangala, Bacopoulos, Gacgowski,  and…oh forget it, ditto on the red ink comment….what do these names have in common?  They were spelled correctly on the program of a local major fundraiser. What do Judy and Kres have in common? They are both spelled wrong when one is referring to me in print. Not to mention previous bastardizations such as Judie, Jodie, Julie, Jude, Joodie and Jedi, along with Krewe, Kruw, Kreu, Knew, Crew, Crewe, Cru and Crews…..so if I ever say I am off finding myself, don’t come looking because it is going to be a long trip! 

With all our technological abilities, like adding a name to a dictionary in spell check, one would think the process of proofreading and correction would be easy. Nope. The local Canton paper has printed my name for various reasons over the last 20 years and for the most part…okay 60% of the time they get it right. The local fundraiser, for whom we have donated lot$ of time and money over the years, prints our name every year…..with a good 95% correct rate. Details. I remember writing a blog about how important it is to check the details when listing names so as to not leave some off, or misspell them. 

Us short name folks seem to get shortchanged for which I could probably come up with several excuses as to why. This inattention happens frequently in person too. When purchasing an item for which someone must write down my name on an order slip…I can stand there and spell it as they write and they still get it wrong. Why? They are not really listening to me. They heard me say it and I can watch them write it while I spell it out loud but I don’t correct them until they are done. Then I (in a smile soaked snark) point out they were not listening and to please correct it….bitchy I know, but lesson learned. 

I took on my husband’s name when we married 28.75 years ago. Google it now and you won’t find many of us. Used to be I checked phone books all over the country looking for other members to add to the Krew Crew but nada unless it was a skate board clothing line or some group trying to be cute with its product spelling or club. There are some who have the “misspellings” as their family name but not as we spell it. With four boys in the next generation down, the name will hopefully continue on as spelled however. 

As I understand it, the name did not come to be mine as we spell it now. And how it left one continent and arrived on this continent is different as well, at least that is the story I am told. At different points of entry over time, and in the aftermath of WW2, things got confusing.  So here we are with a nice simple 4 letter last name and the world still can’t spell it right. Quite a few multi-syllable non American names are shortened to 4 or 5 letters quite often for ease in pronunciation and spelling so this is not a new situation. 

My first name is just an abbreviation of my full Christian name by dropping the last two letters. So why do people change the last letter even when I am asked if my first name is really the full Christian name that uses the “I” in its correct spelling? Although my husband has the same thing with a drop of a “c” and a switch of an “e” and an addition of a “k” when Michael becomes Mike, nobody ever misspells either one of those names. Weird. There are other Judi’s in this town who spell it like me, and I don’t see their names misspelled in print nearly as often as I do mine and all three of us are in the arts. 

Okay, sorry for the complaining but when one is trying to have a career based a great deal upon name recognition, spelling it correctly becomes a pet peeve.  Other examples include show award certificates with my name spelled wrong, the occasion show ribbon, programs too numerous to count anymore, assorted rejection letters (whereas acceptance letters get it right) and I could go on. Know who always spell it right? Organizations asking for money, donations, renewals etc…oh yeah, if they want the $ they pay attention. Once they have the $, they don’t give a crap.  Some friends and I have a running joke that I should just change my name to Jewdee Cru as it would be phonetically spelled I suppose and then I bet it would be right every time. But until then, my little saying remains the same…”Judi with an I, Krew with a K”.  

PS

Hey local Canton paper……want to print a retraction and get it right? But please don’t do what happened the last time, the retraction just misspelled my other name that time while correcting the first mistaken name. I did not bother asking for a retraction of the retraction, Lord knows what would have been my name that time! At least you made the top of the charts for a classic krewation.